Customs and traditions in EnglandWhen foreigners come to England, they are struck at once by great number of customs and traditions in English life. They may seem strange to visitors but the English still keep up these old customs and traditions, which mix with everyday life in the streets of busy London. Traditional uniforms are still preserved in Great Britain. You can see a group of cavalrymen riding on black horses through the central streets of London. They wear red uniforms, shining helmets, long black boots and long white gloves. They carry swords. These men are Life Guards and special duty is to guard the king or queen. In the Tower of London you can see the warders with their funny flat hats. On each second Saturday in November, the newly elected Lord Mayor of London rides in procession through the streets of the city in his medieval carriage. This Lord Mayor’s show is a great traditional event for Londoners. There are a number of other formal ceremonies, such as the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Trooping the Colour which is performed on House Guards Parade every year on the Queen’s official birthday. Among other traditions that most Englishmen observe is 5 o’clock tea which people can have at any time between 4 and 6 p.m. It is a very light meal and the time when “everything stops for tea” in England and this became a kind of ritual. The English people are great pet lovers.Practically every family has a dog or a cat, or both. They have special dog shops selling food, clothes and other things for dogs. There are dog hairdressing saloons and dog cemeteries
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